I’ve always been saddened by any picture or mention of the Colt Python. I owned a beautiful one, which I worked and saved for back in the early 70’s, but I got desperately broke once in the late 70’s and pawned it for $150. It hurts me to this day.
My husband had a Colt revolver when I married him and I don't know how long he had it but I think a long time. The last time I shot it was in 1990 at a range with 38 cartridges in it. After that it was loaded by a friend with buckshot for the first shot and hollow points after that and has stayed in the drawer of my bed side table.
About two months ago, I removed it from the drawer and it's on top of my bed side table for quick access, however, I was shocked how my memory of this gun was wrong when I took it out of the drawer. It is very heavy, no one is going to use this as a carry gun unless it's in a holster around the hip due to the weight, and I just now measured the barrel and measured from the tip of the barrel back to the end of the cylinder and it's four inches. If I stop before I get to the cylinder, it's a little over three inches. This looks like a heavy duty, I will kill you shoot out, western type gun.
There are numbers on the barrel that I can't make out and can't tell if something is spelled out on there but I think it's just numbers but there is a lot of them, so there could be more than numbers.
The grip is in good condition, a tanish/brown color but looks really old. My husband was an ex marine and a true sharp shooter and he would hit anything he aimed at and he definitely knew guns. I also have a revolutionary war or civil war long rifle that uses cap and ball, it's a Springfield in perfect condition. You see what I mean about his knowing guns.
I wonder if this Colt is a Python? There is a large shooting range with store here and I would bet there is a gunsmith there. I need to take this Colt there and have it cleaned and new ammo put in it and find out what the gun actually is. It is just too heavy for a today's carry gun.
I have a new Ruger 38 special revolver, barely has a barrel and it's like a feather compared to this Colt which is why I bought the Ruger and to have one downstairs.
Having seen the pictures of the Python, I don't know what kind of Colt I have.
OK, I see a picture of one now on the thread and Python IS on the barrel.